Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 1

Rule 3.19 - Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Coating Operations

(Adopted 8/6/98) 

A. DEFINITIONS:

A.1 Active Solvent Losses: The active solvent losses are the emissions during all steps 

of a spray gun equipment cleaning operation and are expressed in units of grams of 

solvent loss per cleaning cycle.

A.2 Antiglare/Safety Coating: A coating that does not reflect light.

A.3 Camouflage Coating: A coating applied on motor vehicles to conceal such vehicles 

from detection.

A.4 Catalyst: A substance whose presence initiates the reaction between chemical 

compounds.

A.5 Color Match: The ability of a repair coating to blend into an existing coating so 

that color difference is not visible.

A.6 Coating: A liquid, liquefiable or mastic composition which is converted to a solid 

protective, decorative, or functional adherent film after application as a thin layer.

 

A.7 Electrophoretic Dip: A coating application method where the coating is applied by 

dipping the component into a coating bath and an electrical potential difference 

exists between the component and the bath.

A.8 Electrostatic Application: A sufficient charging of atomized paint droplets to cause 

deposition principally by electrostatic attraction. This application shall be operated 

at a minimum of 60 kV power.

A.9 Exempt Organic Compounds: Any of the following compounds:

1. methane (CH4)

2. carbon dioxide (CO2)

3. carbon monoxide (CO)

4. carbonic acid (CO(OH)2)

5. metallic carbides (M-C) or carbonates (M-CO3)

6. ammonium carbonate (NH4)2 CO3

7. 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform)

8. methylene chloride (dichloromethane)

9. trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11)

10. dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12)

11. chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22)

12. trifluoromethane (HFC-23)

13. 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113)
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 2

14. 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (CFC-114)

15. chloropentafluoroethane (CFC-115)

16. 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,2-dichloroethane (HCFC-123)

17. 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124)

18. pentafluoroethane (HFC-125)

19. 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-134)

20. 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-134a)

21. 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b)

22. 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b)

23. 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a)

24. 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a)

25. Cyclic, branched or linear completely methylated siloxanes (VMS)

26. The following classes of perfluorocarbon (PFC) compounds:

a. cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated alkanes,

b. cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated ethers with no 

unsaturations

c. cyclic, branched, or linear, completely fluorinated tertiary amines 

with no unsaturations, and

d. sulphur containing perfluorocarbons with no unsaturations and with 

sulfur bonds only to carbon and fluorine.

27. The following low-reactive organic compounds which have been exempted 

by the U.S. EPA:

a. acetone

b. ethane

c. parachlorobenzotrifluoride (1-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl benzene).

Perfluorocarbon and methylated siloxane compounds will be

assumed to be absent from a product or process unless a 

manufacturer or facility operator identifies the specific individual 

compounds (from the broad classes of perfluorocarbon compounds) 

and the amounts present in the product or process and provides an 

EPA approved test method which can be used to quantify the 

specific compounds.

d. perchloroethylene, from consumer products.

A.10 Extreme Performance Coating: Any coating used on the surface of a vehicle, 

mobile equipment or their parts or components which is exposed to extreme 

environmental conditions such as high temperatures, corrosive or erosion 

environments, during the vehicle's principal use.

A.11 Four-Stage Coating System: A topcoat system composed of a ground coat portion, 

a pigmented basecoat portion, a semi-transparent midcoat portion, and two 

transparent clearcoat portions. Four-stage coating systems' VOC content shall be 

calculated according to the following formula:

 VOCgc + VOCbc + VOCmc + 2 VOCcc

VOC T4-stage = ______________________________

 5
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 3

Where: VOC T4-stage = the average of the VOC content as applied in the ground coat (gc), basecoat (bc), 

midcoat (mc), and clearcoat (cc) system.

VOCgc = the VOC content as applied of any given groundcoat.

VOCbc = the VOC content as applied in the basecoat.

VOCmc = the VOC content as applied of any given midcoat.

2 VOCcc = two times the VOC content as applied of any given clearcoat.

A.12 Grams of VOC Per Liter of Coating Less Water and Less Exempt Organic 

Compounds: The weight of VOC per combined volume of VOC and coating solids 

and can be calculated by the following equation:

Grams of VOC per Liter Ws - Ww - Wes

of Coating Less Water = _______________

and Less Exempt Organic Compounds Vm - Vw - Ves

Where: Ws = Weight of volatile compounds (grams)

Ww = Weight of water (grams)

Wes = Weight of exempt organic compounds (grams)

Vm = Volume of material (liters)

Vw = Volume of water (liters)

Ves = Volume of exempt organic compounds (liters)

A.13 Grams of VOC Per Liter of Material: The weight of VOC per volume of material 

and can be calculated by the following equation:

Grams of VOC per Liter Ws - Ww - Wes

of Material = _____________

 Vm

Where: Ws = Weight of volatile compounds (grams)

Ww = Weight of water (grams)

Wes = Weight of exempt organic compounds (grams)

Vm = Volume of material (liters)

A.14 Group I Vehicles: Passenger cars, large/heavy duty truck cabs and chassis, light 

and medium duty trucks and vans, and motorcycles.

A.15 Group II Vehicles: Those vehicles which are not Group I vehicles, and mobile 

equipment.

A.16 Gun Washer: Electrically or pneumatically operated system that is designed to 

clean spray application equipment while enclosed. A gun washer may also be 

considered a gun cleaning system that consists of spraying solvent into an enclosed 

container using a snug fitting.

A.17 Hand Application Methods: The application of coatings by non-mechanical handheld equipment including but not limited to paint brushes, hand rollers, caulking 
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 4

guns, trowels, spatulas, syringe daubers, rags, and sponges.

A.18 High-Volume, Low-Pressure Application (HVLP): Spray equipment that uses a 

high volume of air delivered at pressures between 0.1 and 10 psig.

A.19 Low Emission Spray Gun Cleaner: Any properly used spray equipment cleanup 

device which has passive solvent losses of no more than 0.6 grams per hour and has 

active solvent losses of no more than 15 grams per operating cycle as defined by the 

test method in Subsection E.6.

A.20 Metallic/Iridescent Topcoat: Any topcoat which contains more than 5 g/l (.042 

lb./gal) of iridescent particles, composed of metal as metallic particles or silicon as 

mica particles, as applied, where such particles are visible in the dried film.

A.21 Mobile Equipment: Any equipment, other than vehicles (as defined in this rule), 

which may be drawn or is capable of being driven on a roadway, including, but not 

limited to, truck trailers, camper shells, mobile cranes, bulldozers, concrete mixers, 

street cleaners, golf carts, all terrain vehicles, implements of husbandry, and hauling 

equipment used inside and around airports, docks, depots, and industrial and 

commercial plants, but excluding utility bodies.

A.22 Operating Cycle: An operating cycle consists of all steps carried out during a 

cleaning operation.

A.23 Passive Solvent Losses: The passive solvent losses are the emissions from spray 

gun cleaning equipment when the equipment sits idle between cleaning cycles and 

are a result of natural evaporation from the equipment.

A.24 Prep Station: Any spraying area that meets the requirements for a "Limited 

Spraying Area" pursuant to the Uniform Fire Code and that prevents the escape to 

the atmosphere of overspray particulate matter using properly maintained filters and 

mechanical ventilation.

A.25 Pretreatment Wash Primer: Any coating which contains a minimum of 0.5% acid 

by weight, is necessary to provide surface etching and is applied directly to bare 

metal surfaces to provide corrosion resistance and adhesion.

A.26 Primer: Any coating applied prior to the application of a topcoat for the purpose of 

corrosion resistance and adhesion of the topcoat. 

A.27 Primer Sealer: Any coating applied prior to the application of a topcoat for the 

purpose of corrosion resistance, adhesion of the topcoat, color uniformity, and to 

promote the ability of an undercoat to resist penetration by the topcoat.

A.28 Primer Surfacer: Any coating applied prior to the application of a topcoat for the 

purpose of corrosion resistance, adhesion of the topcoat, and which promotes a 
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 5

uniform surface by filling in surface imperfections. 

A.29 Reactive Organic Compound(ROC, ROG, or VOC): Any compound containing at 

least one atom of carbon except those compounds identified in this rule as Exempt 

Organic Compounds.

A.30 Reducer: Any volatile liquid used to reduce the viscosity of the coating. This 

liquid may be solvents, diluents or mixtures of both.

A.31 Specialty Coatings: Coatings that are necessary due to unusual and uncommon job 

performance requirements. These coatings include, but are not limited to, weldthru primers, adhesion promoters, uniform finish blenders, elastomeric materials, 

gloss flatteners, bright metal trim repair, and antiglare/safety coatings.

A.32 Spray Booth: Any power ventilated structure of varying dimensions and 

construction provided to enclose or accommodate a spraying operation and which 

meets the Uniform Fire Code. A spray booth shall confine and limit, by dry or wet 

filtration, the escape to the atmosphere of overspray particulate matter.

A.33 Three-Stage Coating System: A topcoat system composed of a pigmented basecoat 

portion, a semi-transparent midcoat portion, and two transparent clearcoat portions. 

Three-stage coating systems' VOC content shall be calculated according to the 

following formula:

VOCbc + VOCmc + 2 VOCcc

VOC T3-stage = __________________________ 

 4

Where: VOC T3-stage = the average of the VOC content as applied in the basecoat (bc), midcoat 

(mc), and clearcoat (cc) system.

VOCbc = the VOC content as applied in the basecoat.

VOCmc = the VOC content as applied of any given midcoat.

2 VOCcc = two times the VOC content as applied of any given clearcoat.

A.34 Topcoat: Any coating applied over a primer or an original OEM finish for the 

purpose of protection or appearance.

A.35 Transfer Efficiency: The ratio of the weight of coating solids which adhere to the 

object being coated to the weight amount of coating solids used in the application 

process, expressed as a percentage.

A.36 Two-Stage Coating System: A topcoat consisting of a pigmented basecoat and a 

transparent clearcoat. Two-stage coating systems' VOC content shall be calculated 

according to the following formula:
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 6

VOCbc + 2VOCcc

VOC T2-stage = _______________

3

Where: VOC T2-stage = the average of the VOC content as applied in the basecoat (bc) and 

clearcoat (cc) system.

VOCbc = the VOC content as applied in the basecoat.

VOCcc = the VOC content as applied of any given clearcoat.

 

A.37 Undercoat: Any pretreatment wash primer, precoat, primer, primer surfacer, or 

primer sealer.

A.38 Utility Body: A special purpose compartment or unit that will be bolted, welded, or 

affixed onto an existing cab and chassis. The compartment may serve as storage for 

equipment or parts.

A.39 Vehicle: A vehicle is any of the following: passenger cars, large/heavy duty truck 

cabs and chassis, light and medium duty trucks and vans, motorcycles, public 

transit buses, or military tanks or other tracked military vehicles.

A.40 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC): Shall have the same meaning as Reactive

Organic Compound. 

A.41 Water-Based Temporary Transit Coating: Any water-based coating that is intended 

to protect new motor vehicle finishes from certain forms of damage such as iron 

dust, soot, acid rain, and other airborne pollutants during transit and is removed 

prior to sale of the vehicle.

A.42 Weld-Thru Primer: Any primer applied from an aerosol can, 16 ounces or less, to 

bare steel prior to welding that steel area. The purpose of the weld-thru primer is to 

inhibit corrosion in the weld area. 

B. APPLICABILITY

B.1 General Application: The provisions of this rule apply to any person who supplies, sells,

offers for sale, applies or specifies the use of coatings for vehicles, mobile equipment, and

their parts or components.

B.2 Effective Date: The provisions of this rule shall become effective upon the date of 

adoption.
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 7

C. REQUIREMENTS

 

C.1 Coating VOC Content: After the date expressed below, no person shall manufacture, 

solicit, require for use, specify, sell, or coat any vehicle, mobile equipment, or their parts or 

equipment, as defined in this Rule, using any coating with a Volatile Organic Compound 

(VOC) content in excess of the following limits, expressed as grams of VOC per liter of 

coating applied, excluding water and exempt organic compounds, except as provided 

herein 

pursuant to subsection C.4, "Add-on Control Equipment Option", or section D., 

"Exemptions":

Limits

Grams of VOC per Liter of Coating (lbs./gal), Less Water and Less Exempt Organic Compounds:

 July 1, 1998 July 1, 1999 

Group I Group II Group I Group II

Vehicles Vehicles Vehicles Vehicles

& Color & no Color & Color & no Color

Match for Match Match for Match

Group II Group II 

Vehicles Vehicles

 

Pretreatment Wash Primer 780 (6.5) 780 (6.5) 780(6.5) 780 (6.5)

Primer/Primer Surfacer 575 (4.8) 575 (4.8) 340 (2.8) 340 (2.8)

Primer Sealer 550 (4.6) 550 (4.6) 420 (3.5) 340 (2.8)

Single-Stage/Two-Stage

Topcoats 600 (5.0) 420 (3.5) 600 (5.0) 420 (3.5)

Topcoats of More

Than 2 Stages 625 (5.2) 420 (3.5) 600 (5.0) 420 (3.5)

Specialty Coating 840 (7.0) 840 (7.0) 840 (7.0) 840 (7.0)

Extreme Performance -------- 750 (6.2) -------- 750 (6.2)

Camouflage -------- 420 (3.5) -------- 420 (3.5)

C.2 Coatings Containing 1,1,1-Trichloroethane. No person shall apply any coating to any 

vehicle, mobile equipment, or their parts or components, if that coating contains 1,1,1-

trichloroethane.

C.3 Extreme Performance Coating Petition. Any person seeking to apply an extreme 

performance coating as defined in this Rule to a vehicle, mobile equipment, or their parts 

or components shall comply with the following requirements:

a. A petition shall be submitted to the Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) stating 

the performance requirements, volume of coating and VOC level that is attainable.

b. If the APCO grants written approval, then that approval shall be valid for one year. 

If applicable, such petition shall be resubmitted on an annual basis.
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 8

c. If the APCO grants written approval, such approval shall contain volume and VOC 

limit conditions.

C.4 Add-on Control Equipment Option.

a. A person may comply with the provisions of Subsection C.1, Coating VOC Content 

limits, by using air pollution control equipment provided that:

 

1. The combined control and capture efficiency shall reduce VOC 

emissions from an emission device by at least 85 percent, by weight; and

2. The control system must be designed and operated for the maximum 

collection of fugitive emissions according to the U.S. EPA's "Guideline 

for Developing Capture Efficiency Protocols; and

3. Written approval in the form of an Authority to Construct and a Permit to 

Operate for such equipment is received from the APCO.

b. A person may comply with the provisions of subsection C.5, Transfer Efficiency, 

by using add-on control equipment, provided the combined control and capture 

efficiency of VOC is at least 92 percent, by weight.

C.5 Transfer Efficiency. No person shall apply any coating to any vehicle or mobile equipment 

or their parts and components unless one of the following methods is properly used:

a. Hand application methods

b. Electrophoretic dip coating

c. Electrostatic application

d. High-Volume, Low-Pressure (HVLP) application

e. Any other coating application method which has been demonstrated to be capable 

of achieving at least 65 percent transfer efficiency.

C.6 Compliance Statement Requirement. The manufacturer of coatings subject to this rule 

shall include a designation of the VOC content as supplied, including coating components, 

expressed in grams per liter or pounds per gallon, excluding water and exempt organic 

compounds, on labels or data sheets. This designation shall include a statement of 

manufacturer's recommendation regarding thinning, reducing, or mixing with any other 

VOC containing materials. This statement shall include the VOC on an as-applied basis, 

excluding water and exempt organic compounds, based on the manufacturer's 

recommendations.
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 9

C.7 Surface Preparation and Cleanup Solvent. The requirements of this Section shall apply to 

any person using organic solvent for surface preparation and cleanup.

a. Closed containers shall be used for the storage or disposal of solvent-containing cloth 

or paper used for surface preparation and cleanup. Containers shall be non-absorbent.

b. No person shall use organic compounds for spray equipment cleanup unless an 

enclosed gun washer or "low emission spray gun cleaner" as required by this rule is 

properly used for cleaning.

 

c. No person shall use VOC-containing materials that have a VOC content of more than 

200 grams per liter (1.67 lbs./gal) of material for substrate surface preparation prior to 

coating. This limit shall not apply to surface preparation material applied from a handheld spray container or other closed container approved by the APCO. The VOC limit 

for VOC-containing material applied from hand-held spray containers shall not exceed

780 g/l (6.5 lbs./gal).

C.8 Storage of VOC-Containing Materials. All VOC containing materials, including but not 

limited to, fresh or spent solvent, coatings and reducers, shall be kept in closed containers 

when not in use.

C.9 Spray Booth and Prep Stations: Effective January 1, 1999, no person shall apply any 

coating to any complete (entire) vehicle unless that application is performed within a 

properly maintained and operated Spray Booth. All spraying of parts or components of a 

vehicle shall be done in a properly maintained and operated Prep Station or Spray Booth.

D. EXEMPTIONS

D.1 Coatings In A Non-aerosol Container: The Coating sales prohibition in subsection C.1, and 

transfer efficiencies in subsection C.5 shall not apply to the sale of any coating supplied in 

a non-aerosol container with a capacity of 16 fluid ounces or less, and shall not apply to 

any coating supplied in a hand-held, non-refillable aerosol container.

D.2 Approved VOC Add on Controls: The sales prohibition in subsection C.1 shall not apply to 

the sale of coatings where the emissions to the atmosphere from the application of those 

coatings are controlled by a District approved VOC add-on control device that meets the 

requirements of subsection C.4 of this Rule.

D.3 Coatings Shipped Outside The District: The sales prohibition in subsection C.1, shall not 

apply to any coating shipped outside of the District. 

D.4 Logos, Letters Numbers, And Graphics: Any application of logos, letters, numbers and 

graphics to a painted surface, with or without a template, shall be exempt from this rule.

 
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 10

D.5 Residential Dwellings: Any coating operation of a vehicle by a resident of a one or two 

family dwelling shall be exempt from this rule provided:

 

a. The resident is the registered owner of the vehicle being coated

b. The coating operation is not being conducted as a business

c. The coating operation is limited to two vehicles per year

d. The coating operation does not cause a public nuisance 

D.6 Shape And Size Exemption: With prior written approval of the APCO, and on a limited

term basis, the requirements of subsection C.9, Spray Booths and Prep Stations, shall not 

apply to the coating of vehicles which, due to shape or size, cannot reasonably be contained 

in a spray booth.

D.7 Spray Booths and Prep Station Exemption: The requirements of subsection C.9, Spray 

Booths, and Prep Stations shall not apply to: 

a. Any repair, touch-up, or spot priming operation which does not exceed a total of 

nine (9) square feet per vehicle. All such operations shall be conducted in a 

controlled area such that a public nuisance is not caused.

b. Any weld-thru primer.

c. Any application of coatings to owner operated agricultural equipment.

d. Any application of coatings to owner operated construction vehicles.

E. TEST METHODS

E.1 VOC Content. Coating VOC content shall be determined using EPA Method 24. The 

exempt organic compound content of coatings or solvents shall be determined using 

ASTM Method D4457-85. Compliance with the prohibition of sale shall be determined by 

measuring the VOC content of each and every component of a coating or coating system 

which has been reduced, using the manufacturer's recommended type and maximum 

amount of reducer.

E.2 Acid Content: The measurement of acid content of pretreatment wash primers shall be 

done in accordance with ASTM Method D 1613-85 (modified).

E.3 Metal And Silicon Content: The measurement of the metal and silicon content of 

metallic/iridescent coatings shall be determined by South Coast AQMD Method No. 318, 

"Determination of Weight Percent of Elemental Metal in Coatings by X-Ray Diffraction."
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 11

E.4 Collection Efficiency and Capture Efficiency: The collection and capture efficiency of 

organic emissions as specified in Section C.4, shall be measured as follows:

a. Capture efficiency shall be determined by the EPA Guidelines for Developing 

Capture Efficiency Protocols from the Federal Register Part 55 FR 26865, June 29, 

1990.

b. Measurement of vapor flow through pipes shall be determined by EPA Method 2A.

c. Measurement of organic vapor concentration shall be determined by EPA Method 

25A. The calculation of control device efficiency shall be determined only during 

periods of continuous coating operations and shall be averaged over the duration of 

the coating operation not to exceed 24 hours.

E.5 Transfer Efficiency. Transfer Efficiency shall be determined using a method which shall be 

modeled after the test method described in the EPA document (EPA/600/2-88/-26b) 

"Development of Proposed Standard Test Method for Spray Painting Transfer Efficiency."

E.6 Active And Passive Solvent Losses. The active and passive solvent losses from spray gun 

cleaning systems shall be determined using South Coast Air Quality Management District's 

"General Test Method for Determining Solvent Losses from Spray Gun Cleaning 

Systems", dated October 3, 1989. The test solvent for this determination shall be any 

lacquer thinner with a minimum vapor pressure of 105-mm Hg at 20o C. The minimum 

test temperature shall be 15o C.

F. MONITORING AND RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS

F.1 General Monitoring and Record-keeping Requirements. Any person subject to this rule 

shall:

a. Maintain and make available to District personnel, a current list of coatings 

(including specialty coatings) and solvents in use that provides all of the data 

necessary to evaluate compliance, including the following information, as 

applicable:

1. Coating, catalyst, additive, solvent, and reducer used.

2. Mix ratio of components used.

3. VOC content of coating as applied or solvent used in grams/liter or lbs./gal. 

(less water and less exempt organic compounds).

4. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

b. Maintain records that show, on a daily basis, the following information:
Feather River AQMD 3.19 - 12

1. VOC content of the coating or solvent in grams/liter or lbs./gal.

2. Quantity of each coating (including each specialty coating) applied and 

solvent used This quantity need not include toners that are added for color 

matching after preparation of the initial weighed color batch. If purchase 

records are used to determine the amount of solvents used, then records and 

manifests of the amounts of solvents disposed of or recycled must also be 

maintained.

3. Whether a color match was required.

4. Type of vehicle (I or II) or whether mobile equipment was coated.

F.2 Minimum Retention Time. All records shall be retained for a minimum of two years from 

the date of each entry and shall be made available to District personnel upon request.

G. INCREMENTS OF PROGRESS

Any person required to install any equipment in order to comply with this rule shall submit a 

complete application for an Authority to Construct permit to the APCO no later than 60 days after 

the effective date of this rule and shall demonstrate compliance no later than January 1, 1999.